Media device and method of enhancing use of media device

• US 7,689,236 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Matero, Juha, Matero, Jyrki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming; William D
• Application Number:
  US11/082,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/506, 370/310, 370/328, 370/389, 725/22, 725/99, 725/100, 725/39, 725/135
• US Class Current: 455/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

A media device, a network element and a method of enhancing use of a media device are provided. The media device is configured to receive a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system at a given frequency and a service transmission over a radio interface of a cellular telecommunication system, the transmission being associated with the media stream and comprising information about frequencies used to transmit the media stream in different locations. The media device measures signal strength of the media transmission at the frequency the transmission is received and at least at one other frequency used for transmission of the transmission, compares the measured signal strengths and switches the reception of the media transmission to another frequency if the signal strength at said frequency is greater than the signal strength at the current frequency.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, in a media device, a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system at a given frequency;

receiving, in the media device, over a radio interface of a cellular telecommunication system, a service transmission associated with the broadcast media stream, the service transmission comprising information about frequencies used to transmit the broadcast media stream in different locations;

measuring signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at the frequency the media transmission is received and at least at one other frequency used for transmission of the media transmission;

comparing the measured signal strengths; and

switching the reception of the media transmission to another frequency if the signal strength at said frequency is stronger than the signal strength at the current frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the measured signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at the frequency the media transmission is received to a predetermined threshold value, and

measuring signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at least at one other frequency if the measured signal strength is below the threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the service transmission comprising information about geographical locations where each frequency is used, and information about which locations are adjacent to each other, and

selecting at least one other frequency on the basis of the information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in a memory of the media device information about frequencies used in adjacent geographical locations, and selecting at least one other frequency on the basis of the information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in a memory of the media device information about all frequencies used for transmission of the media transmission in a country.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a power up command;

tuning to a frequency used for the reception of a broadcast media stream before last occasion of shutting down the device,

determining that the frequency is not used for the transmission of the broadcast media stream,

measuring signal strengths of frequencies stored in the memory of the device,

and if none of the frequencies is used for the transmission of the broadcast media stream, requesting for a frequency update.

7. A media device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system;

a transceiver configured to communicate with a cellular telecommunication system and to receive a service transmitted over a radio interface of the cellular telecommunication system, the service being associated with the broadcast media stream and comprising information about the frequencies used to transmit the broadcast media stream in different locations;

a memory for storing frequency information;

a controller connected to the receiver, transceiver and the memory, and configured to measure signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at the frequency the media transmission is received and at least at one other frequency used for transmission of the media transmission, compare the measured signal strengths and to switch the reception of the media transmission to another frequency if the signal strength at said frequency is greater than the signal strength at the current frequency.

8. The media device of claim 7, wherein

the transceiver is further configured to receive a service transmitted over a radio interface of the cellular telecommunication system, the service being associated with the broadcast media stream and comprising information about geographical locations where each frequency is used and information about which locations are adjacent to each other, and wherein

the controller is further configured to select at least one other frequency on the basis of the information.

9. The media device of claim 7, further comprising a memory for storing information about frequencies used in adjacent geographical locations, and wherein the controller is configured to select at least one other frequency on the basis of the information.

10. A media device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system;

communication means for communicating with a cellular telecommunication system and for receiving a service transmitted over a radio interface of the cellular telecommunication system, the service being associated with the broadcast media stream and comprising information about frequencies used to transmit the broadcast media stream in different locations;

memory means for storing frequency information; and

controlling means, connected to the receiving means, communication means and the memory means, for measuring signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at the frequency the media transmission is received and at least one other frequency used for transmission of the media transmission, for comparing the measured signal strengths and for switching the reception of the media transmission to another frequency if the signal strength at said frequency is greater than the signal strength at the current frequency.

11. A computer readable medium encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process, the process comprising:

receiving, over a radio interface of a cellular telecommunication system, a service transmission associated with a received broadcast media stream transmitted by a broadcast system at a given frequency, the service transmission comprising information about frequencies used to transmit the broadcast media stream in different locations;

measuring signal strength of the broadcast media transmission at the frequency the media transmission is received and at least at one other frequency used for transmission of the media transmission;

comparing the measured signal strengths; and

switching the reception of the media transmission to another frequency if the signal strength at said frequency is greater than the signal strength at the current frequency.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, the medium including at least one of the following media:

a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, and a computer readable compressed software package.